Automatic pad making machine



R. H. FENN. AUTOMATIC PAD MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED H8. 10, ISIS.

1 194,983 Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

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R. H F ENN. AUTOMATIC PAD MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I0, I913.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

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WITNESSES:

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AUTOMATIC PAD-MAKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

Application filed February 10, 1913. Serial No. 747,512

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. FENN,

citizen of the United States, and resident of Suffern, in the county of Rockland and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Pad- Making Machines, of which the following is a specification.

my knowledge, up to the present time, these.

pads have been made by hand. They consist usually of a cardboard-backing on which is placed a roll of cotton-batting. A strip of velvet is stretched over the cotton-batting and each edge of the velvet strip is glued to the under side of the cardboard strip, mak

ing a cushion like pad, half oval in cross When manufactured by hand these,

section. pads are usually made from fourteen to eighteen inches long and afterward cut .up into such lengths as may be necessary to fit strip passes to guide it so that it passes centhem into the ring boxes. I

The object of my invention is to make these pads in the form of a continuous strip,

automatically without hand labor.

My invention consists of a machine illustrated by drawings as follows Figure 1, shows a side elevation of complete machine. Fig. 2, shows a plan view section on the line X X, Fig. 1. shows rear end elevation. Fig. 4, shows vertical side elevation section of gluing apparatus. Fig. 5, shows rear end elevation of gluing apparatus. Fig. 6, shows plan View of gluing apparatus. Fig. 7, shows sectional view of the gluing apparatus on the line Y Y Fig. 4. Fig. 8, shows sectional view of the gluing apparatus on the line Z Z Fig. 4. Fig. 9, shows side elevation of folder. Fig. 10 shows a plan view of the folder. Fig. 11, shows front end elevation of folder. Fig. 12, shows rear end elevation of folder. Fig. 13 shows vertical cross section of folder on the line WV Fig. 10. Fig. 1 1, shows partial view of under side of folder. Fig. 15, shows vertical cross section of puller. Fig. 16, shows plan View of puller. Fig. 17, shows end view of puller. Fig. 1 8, shows vertical cross section of puller Fig. 3,

on the line V V Fig. 16. Fig. 19, shows a cross section of finished pad. Fig. 20, shows a broken section of finished'pa'd." 1

The mechanism of my invention is composed of the following parts:

A table '(A) which supports the various parts of the machine.

A reel (A mounted so as to be capable of being rotated on a shaft (A This shaft (A sits in two U shaped slots (A) so that shaft and reel can readily be removed.

(A card or tag board strip or other suitable material, cut to the desired width and length, preferably 1000 feet or more and wound on reel (A (B) the gluing apparatus, a part of the machine adapted for gluing the cardboard strip so'that the under side'of the-strip is coated with glue at each edge leaving a portion through the middle which is uncoated and free from glue.

(13) a slot through which the cardboard trally over the glue wheel (B (13) a gas flame or other source of heat.

(B a water bath heated by'source of heat (B (B a receptacle for holding glue, partly immersed in the water bath to keep glue heated and of proper consistency for use.

(B a groove in center of peripheral face of glue Wheel.

(B a scraper arranged so that as the glue wheel is rotated the layer of glue which is carried up on its face is scraped off to such thickness as is desirable, the scraper also having a projection (B fitting the groove (B) in the glue wheel (B so that practically all of the glue is removed from the groove. This leaves glue on the face of the glue wheel on each side of the groove and' when the cardboard strip passes over the glue wheel it is pressed down upon it by the roller (B*), and the cardboard strip receives two narrow coatings of glue on its under side extending to each edge and separated from each other by a strip longitudinally through the center of the lower face of the cardboard strip, by a portion of same, which in running over the glue wheel, passed opposite the groove in the face of same, where no coating of glue could be deposited.

(B) a sprocket wheel for driving glue wheel so that its periphery travels approximately at the same rate of speed as that of the cardboard strip.

(C) a standard supporting a lower roller C") which may rotate on its axis, be moved vertically up and down or moved around the standard (C) as a center.

(C a flanged roller of suitable width between flanges to allow cardboard strip to run easily over roller between the flanges. This roller also mounted so as to be rotatable on its axis, and also around the standard (0) as a center, and also movable vertically up or down on the standard.

The lower roller is usually fixed in position, and the upper moved up or down on the standard to expose a greater or less length of glued strip (A to the air to allow the glue to dry to the proper degree of adhesiveness.

(C guide wheels for glued strip to keep it in position and from dropping down and sticking to table. The center of the guide wheels are crowned so that the central unglued portion of the cardboard strip rides on the crowned portion of the guide wheels, thus the glued portion of the cardboard strip does not come into contact with the guide wheels.

(D) a reel carried by the shaft (D resting in the U slots (D) in the frames (D so that the reel can be removed easily by simply lifting the shaft (D vertically out of the slots (1)). This reel is adapted to carry a roll of velvet strip (D of suitable width.

(D a circular hole in the table through which one or several strips of cotton batting (E may be drawn from below.

(1)) a guard covering the glued cardboard strip (A to prevent any possibility of the cotton batting coming into contact with the said glued cardboard strip.

(E) a reel adapted to carry a roll of cotton batting and easily removable in a manner similar to the reel (1)).

(E strip or strips of cotton batting or other suitable material of necessary width to make pad of desired shape and resiliency.

F) is aconverging tube forming a portion of the folder, which converges at its narrowest portion (F until its cross section is similar to, but somewhat smaller than the cross section of the finished pad. The tube is made of sheet brass or other suitable material. The tube is fastened to its support at (F) so that it is flexibly mounted to allow motion of the small end vertically up and down and slightly sidewise. This is to allow the small end of the tube to adjust itself centrally within the outer tube (F The interior cross section of this tube (F is the same shape as that of the finished pad (F except that it is somewhat flatter. The space between the inside of the outer tube (F and the outside of the inner tube (F) is, when the inner tube adjusts itself, just thick enough so that it will allow the velvet strip to pass smoothly and without wrinkling.

(F) is a slotted guide through which the stripof velvet (D passes. The guide (F) -5 and outer tube (F must be positioned so that a Vertical plane will pass through them centrally and also through the axis of the tube (F) and through the center of the cardboard strip (A (F represents flanges on a portion of each lower edge of the tube (F these are to keep cardboard strip in central position under tube, and the turned in edges (F) of the flanges (F are to keep the velvet from coming into contact with the glued cardboard strip where the velvet is folded around the tube (F These flanges are joined together by the tongue (F) also designed to keep the velvet and glued cardg board strip apart.

(F) is a folding bar; this forms the bottom of the tube (F at that portion where the cross section is the same, or approXi mately the same as that of the finished pad Fig. 19. This bar (F) is to force the strip of velvet, being drawn through around the tube (F inwardly and upwardly against the glued surface of the cardboard strip.

(F designates a spring to keep cardboard strip pressed tightly up against under side of tube (F to prevent the lower glued surface of cardboard strip from coming into contact with the inside of the turned in flanges (F (F is a spring to keep the cardboard strip pressed tightly up against the lower side or bottom of tube (F) and also incidentally to keep the small end of the tube (F pressed upwardly toward the inner surface of the outer tube (F (G) represents the puller mechanism as a whole, adapted for pulling pad through folder. This puller is provided with a frame (G which has eight bearings;. each two bearings, one on each side of the frame (G carries a shaft, four shafts in all (G (G (G and (G Fastened to each of these shafts and placed midway between the side walls of said frame (G is sprocket (G These sprockets and shafts are arranged in pairs, one above the other. The two upper sprockets carry the chain (G and the two lower sprockets carry the lower chain (G The links of these chains are so made that the transverse edges of the links as related to one another form a series of teeth adapted to grasp a velvet and the upper strand of the lower chain are placed so that they are contiguous to each other and can be adjusted by means of the upper pressure bar (G and the lower pressure bar (G) so that in operation they will be either closer to, or farther away from each other as desired. Since the pad is practically of the same thickness at all times, this adjustment of the pressure bars which can be made by the pressure screws (G is a means of increasing or decreasing the pressure exerted by the two chains upon the pad engaged and passing between them.

The upper pressure bar (G is provided with a pin (G passing through the upper portion of the frame (G This pin is provided with a head, and between the head and the frame (G) is a spring (G encircling the pin (G This spring being under compression prevents the upper pressure bar (G from dropping down onto the lower strand of the upper chain when the pad is not being pulled through between the chains.

It is to be noted that the space included between the two contiguous faces of the chains and the side walls of the puller is approximately similar in cross-section to the cross-section of the finished pad.

Each of the shafts (G and (G is provided with a gear wheel (G of equal pitch diameter and teeth, one meshing with the other so that both shafts turn at the same speed, and consequently both sprockets; it follows from this that both chains must be driven at the same speed and their contiguous faces therefore travel in the same direction and at the same speed.

lVhen shaft (G) is driven the gears (G cause the shaft (G to revolve in the opposite direction at the same speed. The two sprockets on the shafts (G (G then cause the chains (G and (G to move at equal speeds. The two inner strands (G and (G then move in the same direction at equal speeds. The edges (G) of the chain links then point toward the shaft( G like the teeth of a saw and are adapted to pull the pad through the puller between the inner chain strands (G and (G (G) a sprocket on the drive shaft (G driving the chain (G) which in turn drives the sprocket (B) on the glue wheel shaft.

The machine operates as follows :The reel (D carrying a roll of velvet strip (D is placed in position. The velvet strip is then threaded through the guide slot (F around the tube (F and finally between the tube (F) and the outer tube (F the edges of the velvet strip being turned inwardly and upwardly by the folding bar (F The velvet is pulled through the tube (F in this manner until it projects an inch or so beyond the end of the tube (F It will. be noted that the folder has a. converging tube (F and that at its larger end there is a hoodlike prolongation of the upper wall, and that (D) is practically a prolongation of the lower wall of tube (1). There is a space between the upper hood like prolongation and the guard (D At this portion of the folder the velvet strip is above the hood and lies upon it, while the cardboard strip is below and inside the guard (D). The padding strip or strips (E is drawn up through either one or both of the holes (D shown in Fig. 2, one on each side of the folder, and then into the larger end of the converging tube (F between the hood and the guard (D). The padding strip enters from the side and in no way interferes with either the velvet or the cardboard strip. The padding strip is drawn through the tube (F until it too projects about an inch or so from the end of the tube (F The glue having been heated and of the proper consistency, the glue wheel (E is revolved from the puller drive (G by the chain (G). The scraper (B is adjusted to allow the proper amount of glue on the glue wheel. The cardboard strip (A is then threaded through the slot (13) and over the top of the glue wheel, the roller (B is dropped down on the top of the strip pressing it down against the upper periphery of the glue wheel to insure thatthe strip gets a thorough coating of glue on its under surface except in the cen ter opposite the groove (B). The glued cardboard strip is now passed under the roller (C up over the roller or pulley (C and then down again around the under side of the roller or pulley (0"). Roller (C) is so adjusted that the cardboard strip is directed on its downward passage so that it passes around roller (C) a short dis tance away from where cardboard strip first passes under and around it; thus the strip passing over the rollers (C and (C cannot foul each other. The distance between the rollers (C) -and (0) is adjusted to give glue on the cardboard strip necessary time, in passing, to dry to the proper degree of adhesiveness. The glued cardboard strip is then led over the guide roller (C through the guard (D ),between the springs (F and (F) and the under side of the tube (F then between the turned up edges of the velvet strip and the under side of the tube (F). The instant the under glued surface of the cardboard strip comes into contact with the turned in edges of, the velvet strip, said edges immediately adhere to the under side of the glued cardboard strip. Then a pull on the projecting ends of the velvet and cotton batting, pulls the velvet, cotton batting and glued cardboard strip through the folder which forms them as described into the finished pad. The end of this pad is then. lIlSQXted, in the puller between the two adjacent strands of chain (G') and (G The edges of the chain links acting as teeth, and adjusted the correct distance apart, as the puller is driven, grasp the pad and continue as long as puller is driven to pull the pad from the-folder. The pad while passing through the puller is subjected to considerable pressure between the chains so that the edges of the velvet strip are firmly pressed to the glued surface of the cardboard strip. It is to be particularly noted that the walls of the housing (G together with the inner faces of the chain inclose a space approximately of the same cross section as the finished pad, and that as the pad is subjected to pressure between the chains that the side walls prevent the bulging out of the pad and its consequent deformation and destruction. The pad emerges from the opposite end of the puller finished, and is cut off by shears or otherwise to such lengths as may be desirable.

In my claims the following terms shall be construed as defined below: Cardboard strip shall be construed to mean a strip or strips of any suitable material such as cardboard, tag-board, paper, leather, wood, fiber, metal, etc., of any suitable thickness or width. Velvet strip shall be construed to mean a strip or strips of any suitable material such as velvet, velveteen, plush, satin, felt, etc. Padding strip shall be construed to mean a strip or strips of cotton battin felt, fiber or any material suitable for cushion or padding purposes, said padding strip of any suitable or desirable cross section, shape or thickness.

What I claim is 1. In a pad making machine a folder comprising a converging tube flexibly supported at its larger end, and a larger fixed tube encircling its smaller end.

2. In a pad making machine a folder comprising a converging tube flexibly supported at its larger end, and a larger fixed tube encircling its smaller end, a slotted guide over the large end of said converging tube and a downwardly projecting flange from each side of said converging tube forming a shallow channel.

3. In a pad making machine a folder comprising a converging tube flexibly supported at its larger end and a fixed tube of similar cross-section encircling its smaller end; a portion of said smaller end of said converging tube being provided with a flat bottom making a half oval cross-section; side walls of portion of inner tube having flat bottom being prolonged downwardly to form a shallow channel, and a slotted guide over larger end of said converging tube.

a. In a pad making machine a folder comprising a converging tube, the smaller end provided with a flat bottom and joining a tube of similar cross-section with parallel sides, a larger tube of similar cross-section encircling a portion of the tube having parallel sides, said encircling tube provided with a flared end toward large end of said converging tube; an extension of the side walls of said parallel tube downwardly to form a shallow channel, a lip extending inwardly from each of said side walls of said channel; a tongue joining the side walls of said channel and being an extension of said lips, said tongue extending toward and closely approaching said outer encircling tube. i

5. In a pad making machine a folder comprising a converging tube, the smaller end provided with a flat bottom and joining a tube of similar cross section with parallel sides, a larger tube of similar cross-section encircling a portion of the tube having parallel sides, said encircling tube provided with a flared end toward large end of said converging tube; an extension of the side walls of said parallel tube downwardly to form a shallow channel, a lip extending inwardly from each of said side walls of said channel; together with a tongue joining the side walls of said channel and being an extension of said lips, said tongue extending toward and closely approaching said outer encircling tube and a spring fastened to said converging tube, the end of same projecting upwardly through a slot in said tongue and adapted to press a passing cardboard strip upwardly closely against the under side of said parallel portion of said inner tube.

6. In a pad making machine a folder com prising a converging tube, the smaller end provided with a flat bottom and joining a tube of similar cross section with parallel sides, a larger tube of similar cross section encircling a portion of the tube having parallel sides, said encircling tube provided with a flared end toward large end of said converging tube, an extension of the side walls of said parallel tube downwardly to form a shallow channel, a lip extending inwardly from each of said side walls of said channel; a tongue joining the side walls of said channel and being an extension of said lips, said tongue extending toward and closely approaching said outer encircling tube; a spring fastened to said converging tube, the end of same projecting upwardly through a slot in said tongue and adapted to press a passing card board strip upwardly .1

ISQ

provided with a flat bottom and joining a tube of similar cross-section with parallel sides, a larger tube of similar cross-section encircling a portion of the tube having parallel sides, said encircling tube provided with a flared end toward large end of said converging tube, an extension of the side walls of said parallel tube downwardly to form a shallow channel, a lip extending inwardly from each of said side walls of said channel; a tongue joining the side walls of said channel and being an extension of said lips, said tongue extending toward and closely approaching said outer encircling tube; a spring fastened to said converging tube, the end of same projecting upwardly through a slot in said tongue and adapted to press a passing card board strip upwardly closely against the under side of said parallel portion of said inner tube, and a spring mounted below said converging tube adapted to press a passing card board strip upwardly against the under side of said converging tube and incidentally to press said inner converging tube upwardly toward the outer encircling tube, and means for guiding velvet strip over said converging tube.

8. In a pad making machine a folder comprising a converging tube, the smaller end provided with a flat bottom and joining a tube of similar cross-section with parallel sides, a larger tube of similar cross-section encircling a portion of the tube having parallel sides, said encircling tube provided with a flared end toward large end of said converging tube, an extension of the side walls of said parallel tube downwardly to form a shallow channel, a. lip extending in wardly from each of said side walls of said channel; a tongue joining the side walls of said channel and being an extension of said lips, said tongue extending toward and closely approaching said outer encircling tube; a spring fastened to said converging tube, the end of same projecting upwardly through a. slot in said tongue and adapted to press a passing cardboard strip upwardly closely against the under side of said parallel portion of said inner tube, and a spring mounted below said converging tube adapt ed to press a passing card board strip upwardly against the under side of said converging tube and incidentally to press said inner converging tube upwardly toward the outer encircling tube, and means for guiding velvet strip over said converging tube.

r 9. In a pad making machine a folder comprising a converging tube, the smaller end provided with a flat bottom and joining a tube of similar cross-section with parallel sides, a larger tube of similar cross-section encircling a portion of the tube having parallel sides, said encircling tube provided with a flared end toward large end of said converging tube; an extenslon of the slde walls of said parallel tube downwardly to form a shallow channel, a lip extending in wardly from each of said side walls of said channel; a tongue joining the side walls of said channel and being an extension of said lips, said tongue extending toward and closely approaching said outer encircling tube, together with a spring mounted below said converging tube adapted to press a passing card board strip upwardly against the under side of said converging tube and incidentally to press said inner converging tube upwardly toward the outer encircling tube; and means for guiding velvetstrip over said converging tube.

10. In a pad making machine a folder comprising a converging tube flexibly supported at its larger end, and a larger fixed tube encircling its smaller end, a prolongation of the upper wall of the large end of said converging tube to form a hood and a prolongation of the lower wall of said converging tube provided with downwardly extending sides to form a channel.

11. In a pad making machine a folder comprising a converging tube, the smaller end provided with a flat bottom and joining a tube of similar cross-section with parallel sides, a larger tube of similar cross-section encircling a portion of the tube having parallel sides, said encircling tube provided with a flared end toward large end of said converging tube, an extension of the side walls of said parallel tube downwardly to form a shallow channel, a lip extending inwardly from each of said side walls of said channel; a tongue joining the side walls of said channel and being an extension of said lips, said tongue extending toward and closely approaching said outer encircling tube; a spring fastened to said converging tube, the end of same projecting upwardly through a slot in said tongue and adapted to press a passing card board strip upwardly closely against the under side of said parallel portion of said inner tube, and a spring mounted below said converging tube adapted to press a passing card board strip upwardly against the under side of said converging tube and incidentally to press said inner converging tube upwardly toward the outer encircling tube, means for guiding velvet strip over said converging tube together with a prolongation of the upper wall of large end of said converging tube to form a hood and a prolongation of the lower wall of said converging tube provided encircling a portion of the tube having partwo said strands of contiguous chain and the allel sides, together with a puller comprising the combination of a housing provided with two longitudinal side walls, bearings supporting shafts on which are fastened sprocket wheels, two chains provided with teeth positioned between said side walls and carried on said sprocket wheels, so that a strand of each faces and is adjacent to the other, means being provided for pressing each of said adjacent strands toward the other throughout its length with a continuous adjustable pressure, the cross-section of the space inclosed between the faces of the two said strands of contiguous chain and the said longitudinal side walls being approximately similarand equal to the cross-sect on of the finished pad and to the cross-section of the space inclosed by the said larger en circling tube.

13. In a pad making machine a folder comprising a converging tube, the smaller end provided with a fiat bottom and o ning a tube of similar cross-section with parallel sides, and a larger tube of similar cross-section encircling a portion of the tube having parallel sides, said parallel sides being extended downwardly to form a shallow channel, together with a puller comprising a housing provided with two longitudinal side walls, bearings supporting shafts on which are fastened sprocket wheels, two chains, provided with teeth, positioned between said side walls and carried on said sprocket wheels, so that a strand of each faces and is adjacent to the other, .means being provided for pressing each of said adjacent strands toward the other throughout its length with a continuous adjustable pressure, the cross-section of the space inclosed between the faces of the said longitudinal side walls being approximately similar and equal to the cross-section of the finished pad and to the cross-section of the space inclosed by the said larger encircling tube.

14. In a pad making machine a folder comprising a converging tube flexibly supported at its larger end, and a larger fixed tube encircling its smaller end, a slotted guide over the large end of said converging tube and a downwardly projecting flange from each side of said converging tube forming a shallow channel together with a pulling mechanism comprising a housing provided with two longitudinal side walls, bearings supporting shafts on which are fastened sprocket wheels, two chains provided with teeth positioned between said side walls and carried on said sprocket wheels so that a strand of each faces, and is adjacent to the other, means being provided for pressing each of said adjacent strands toward the other throughout its length with a continuous adjustable prespad and to the crosssection of the space inclosed by the said larger encircling tube.

15. In a pad making machine a folder comprising a converging tube flexibly supported at its larger end, and a larger fixed tube encircling its smaller end together with a pulling mechanism comprising a housing provided with two longitudinal side walls, bearings supporting shafts on which are fastened sprocket Wheels, two chains provided with teeth positioned between said side walls and carried on said sprocket wheels so that a strand of each faces, and is adjacent to the other, means being provided for pressing each of said adjacent strands toward the other throughout its length with a continuous adjustable pressure, the cross-section of the space inclosed between the faces of the two said strands of contiguous chain and the said longitudi" nal side walls being approximately similar and equal to the cross-section of the finished pad and to the cross-section of the space inclosed by the said larger encircling tube.

16. In a pad making machine a folder comprising a converging tube supported at its larger end, and a larger tube, supported externally of said converging tube, encircling its smaller end.

17. In a pad making machine a folder comprising a converging tube supported at its larger end, and a larger tube, supported externally of said converging tube, encircling its smaller end, together with a hood like prolongation of the upper wall of said converging tube, at its larger end.

18. In a pad making machine a folder comprising a converging tube supported at its larger end, a larger tube, supported externally of said converging tube, encircling its smaller end, a prolongation of the upper wall of the larger end of said converging tube to form a hood, a prolongation of the lower wall of the larger end of said converging tube provided with downwardly extending sides to form a channel.

19. In a pad making machine a folder comprising a converging tube supported at its larger end, a larger tube, supported externally of said converging tube, encircling its smaller end, a prolongation of the upper wall of the larger end of said converging tube to. form a hood, a prolongation of the lower wall of the larger end of said converging tube, provided with downwardly extending sides to form a channel together with means for guiding velvet strip over said converging tube.

comprising a tube provided with a flared Ill " Wall of said tube, with flared end, at its larger end to form a hood, a prolongation of the lower wall of said tube with flared end, at its flared end, provided with downwardly extending sides to form a channel,

together with means for guiding the Velvet 16 strip over said tube with flared end.

Signed at Suflern, in the county of Rockland and State of New York, this 7th day of February, A. D. 1913.

ROBERT H. FENN. Witnesses:

E. J. FENN, S. G. HELLEM.

-Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

